Penholder.



AYr'inein SAMUEL Lewis VAN Anny, JR., or LAoKA'wAX-EN, PnNNsYLvANi.

PENHOLDERQ srncrrreerlolv forming part of Letters Patent/No. 650,880, dated .Tune 5, 1906. Application filed November Z3, 1899. Serial No. 737,999. (No model.)

in the art to which it appertains to make and' use the same.

This invention relates to penholders, and

has for its object to provide asimple, cheap, v

readily-constructed, and perfectly-operating device, by means of which the operative end of the penholder may be adjusted laterally at either side to cause the pen to lie at any desired angle to the main body or shank ofthe penholder, according to the requirements of the writer. Y

My invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in the several views, Figure l is a longitudinal central section of a penholder embodying my invention, the shank being in elevation. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device, partly in section; and Figs. 4 and 5, respectively, side and plan views of a portion of the penholder, showing several details of construction.

In the practice of my invention I form the shankA of the penholder of Wood orany other suitable material, upon the lower end whereof I secure a preferably metallic tube B, secured in any desired manner. Within this tube B is inserted a small sliding cylinder a, the forward end of which is closed and provided with a plurality of teeth b. Behindthe short cylinder a is a spiral spring C, the tendency of which is to expand, and one end of which projects into the cylinder a to force the same forwardly or outwardly, such movement of the cylinder being limited by a small integral stud c, formed upon said cylinder and working in a longitudinal slot d in the tube B.

Upon vthe tube B are formed two upwardlyranging and slightly inwardly deflected lugs e. In these lugs is pivoted a short supplemental tube D, which is provided with the split metallic block whereby to hold a pen frictionally, as ordinarily with penholders of the present type. The rear or inner edge of the tube D is in both the upper and the lower faces thereof provided withslots fat either side of the lugs e of the tube B, between which slots are accordingly formed lugs g, engaging the outer faces of tlie lugs c, and through these lugs g and e is inserted a pin h, which serves as a journal or spindle for the tube D," whereby the same is laterally movable toeither lside relatively of the tube B, the lugs g being on the outside of the lugs e.

Formed integrally with the rear or inner edge of the tube D isa segmental rack e', the teeth j of which in practice mesh With the teeth b of the cylinder ct. Over the whole forward or finger portion of the penholder, comprised by the two tubes B and D', I place a sheath or tubular cover F, of rubber or similar flexible'V and, preferably, elastic material, which is open at both ends.

The operation of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,` A pen being placed in the yholder and it being desired to write, the stud c is pressed rearwardly by the finger to withdraw the teeth b of the cylinder u, from engagement with the teeth j upon the tube D, and the said tube D is turned either to the right or the left, as the writer may desire, according to his customaryposition or angle relatively to the Writing-surface, or according to his customary manner of holding the pen, or according, furthermore, to whether he writes with the right or the left hand. In this movement of the tube D the lugs e of the tube B will enter the slots f, and the limit of movement of the said tube D will be governedby the depth of said slots relatively to the width of the lugs e. The tube D having been adjusted to the desired angle, the stud c is released, thereby permitting the cylinder ct to be forced by the spring C forwardly or outwardly, whereby the teeth b thereof engage the teeth j of the segmental rack z', thus holding the said tube D in its adjusted angular position. The rubber sheath serves to cover up the joints of the two parts and to keep ink or dust from getting in the same to clog them, and by reason of the par- IOO ticular arrangement of the parts, whereby the tube D is outside of the lugs e, the whole device presents an even and comparativelysmooth surface to the fingers of thewriter.

Having fully described lny invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A penholder having a movable pen-receiving end pivoted thereto and adapted to swing laterally, and.spring-projected means within the penholder for engaging said movable end to hold the same in any adj usted position; the said engaging means beingadapted to be temporarily released to permit adjustment of said movable end.

2. A penholder having a movable pen-receiving end connected therewith, whereby it swings laterally, and which is provided with a serrated surface within its point of connection with said penholder; and spring-actuated mcans upon the penholder for engaging said serrated surface, and adapted to be temporarily released therefrom.

3. A penholder having a movable pen-receivin g end connected therewith and adapted to swing laterally to either side thereof; a locking device mounted within the penholder and provided with means for engaging the movable end to retain it in the adjusted position; and a rubber sheath surrounding the penholder and the movable end.

4. A penholder having a movable pen-receiving end connected therewith and adapted to swing laterally to either side thereof; a lookin g device mounted within the penholder and provided with means for engaging the movable end to retain it in the adjusted position; a iiexible sheath surrounding the penholder and the movable end; and releasing means connected with the locking device within the penholder and projecting through the outer sheath.

5. A penholder having a movable pen-receiving end pivoted thereto and adapted to swing to either side thereof, and provided with a segmental serrated cross-bar Within its pivotal point of connection with the penholder; a sliding cylinder mounted within the penholder and provided with a serrated face adapted to engage the segmental bar to lock the movable end in its desired adjustment; a spring within the penholder bearing against the sliding cylinder to normally project the same, and a stud upon said cylinder projecting through the wall of the penholder; said penholder being slotted to receive said stud therethrough.

G. A penh'older having a tube secured to one end thereof which is provided with upwardly-projecting, inwardly-deflected lugs, said penholder being slotted; a pen-receiving tube mounted over and upon said lugs and slotted at either side thereof and pivoted thereto by a spindle passing therethrough; said tube having an integral segmental rack provided with teeth; a short hollow cylinder sliding in the penholder and provided with teeth to engage the teeth of the segmental rack; a spring within the penholder and entering the sliding cylinder' to normally project the same; a stud mounted upon the said cylinder and extending through the slot in the penholder; and a rubber sheath mounted upon and incasing the operative end of the penholder and slotted to receive the said stud therethrough.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, inpresence of the subscribing witnesses, this 13th day of November, 1899.

SAMUEL LEWIS VAN Al{lN,J1i.

IVitnesses:

WM. Gaude, GEO. M. LAUBSTINE. 

